It’s the last day of the year, and normally, the tendency is to think about the ending of one year and the beginning of another. But in my house, we’ve started a new tradition. I liken it to the bonus features you get on a DVD–they come after the end of the movie and make it seem like the movie isn’t really over, but just getting started. You get to visit some more with the characters, see inside the making of the story, etc. In our family, our Bonus Features are pretty simple:
Favorite Memory: This is exactly what it implies, your favorite memory from the past year. For my youngest, his memory doesn’t extend past Christmas morning, so his favorite memory is opening those presents. The favorite memory can be anything done alone or with friends. As we talked, we discovered lots of gems from the past 365 days.
Favorite Family Memory: We take a lot of trips together as a family and I made both kids (the teenager included, even though she rolled her eyes) tell their favorite family memory of something we all did together. This opened up a whole competition between the several different places we went, because each of us had a different favorite. It spurred a whole bunch of remembrances, and a long, half-hour reminiscence.
What We Wish We Did: This is the plan-for-the-future kind of discussion that we have, the trips we didn’t take or adventures we didn’t go on. From this, we end up planning out the next year’s family activities, or making next year’s resolutions (like, “I really wish I’d gone down that raft ride at the waterpark and I’ll go next time”).
People We Remember Most: These are the people who touched our lives over the last year. Loved ones who have passed, or simply new friends we have made. We talk about why they were special and how they made a difference in the last year.
The Bonus Features are the moments we want to preserve, sort of a time capsule of the last year. By having that discussion (we had it on a long car ride back and forth to the airport for Christmas travel), we bring the whole year full-circle, rather than concentrating on just that one holiday week. We discovered that 2007 had been full of so many changes and big events, things we had forgotten, until we started talking about them. We grew a lot as a family and as individuals, and although we can’t go back in time and preserve any of it, we can hopefully remember to hold on tighter to some of those moments in the year ahead.
If you have a moment, try it–either with yourself or with your own family. You just might be surprised to find the Bonus Features are just as wonderful as the year itself!
I love this idea, Shirley! We’ll try it tonight at our house and see what comes to mind.
If you end the year by remembering all the highlights, I bet those will be what stay with you when you look back years later. I’ve spent the last week or so mulling over missed opportunities and other angsty things; it’s time to spin the dial to a new channel for the new year, and this sounds like a great way to do it.
by Eric Selinger December 31st, 2007 at 10:40 amI love that.
And my writing bonus features are always easier to remember. (I keep track of everything on a calendar) My personal bonus features are a little harder to pin down, but I’ll give it a try.
by Melissa Blue December 31st, 2007 at 12:38 pmWhat a meaningful way to reflect upon the past year. I love this idea. Thanks for sharing.
~Misa
by Misa Ramirez December 31st, 2007 at 2:38 pm[…] De Paul RSS Feeds Romancing the BlogThe Bonus FeaturesMy year in booksAll I needed to know about being an author I learned from reality TV.Perfect […]
by Scarlet Letters December 31st, 2007 at 3:45 pmWhat a unique way to look at our memories of the past year. So many are bittersweet. It would be great to hit the go back button. My son played his last college football game, my next son went off to college far away…. You all know what I mean. I’m sure 2008 will provide many more good ‘extras.”
by Susan Kelley January 1st, 2008 at 10:46 pm